For Jack Lee, a junior at Coastal Carolina University, the start of the 2025 collegiate golf season was more than just another tournament—it was the culmination of years of dedication, a family reunion across continents, and a breakthrough moment that could shape the rest of his athletic career. The Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate at the Grande Dunes Resort Course, held September 7-9, bore witness to Lee’s first collegiate victory, a feat made even more special by the presence of his parents, Tony and Sally Lee, who traveled from England to watch their son compete.
Lee’s journey to this moment has been marked by consistency and determination. Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2023, he’s played in all 21 team events for Coastal Carolina, according to On The Green Magazine. Yet, despite his steady participation, his parents had only managed to attend two of his collegiate tournaments—both at Grande Dunes, and both times making the long trip from their London borough home. Last year, they watched him finish 27th at even-par 216. This time, they followed him closely for 54 holes, witnessing every shot as he carved out a career-low 14-under par 65-66-71=202, clinching a two-shot victory over Florida Atlantic’s Biagio Gagliardi.
Reflecting on the experience, Lee shared, “They was with me every shot. Looking at how many college events I’ve played so far, and for this to only be the second one they’ve come to, and to be able to win it, it was very special. It meant even more to me to be able to, for the week they’re here, play the best golf I’ve played so far.”
Lee’s performance wasn’t just a win; it was a personal best on multiple fronts. He set new marks for his lowest single round (65), best 36-hole score (131), and best 54-hole total (202). After opening with rounds of 65 and 66, Lee entered Tuesday’s final round with a commanding six-shot lead. He birdied two of his first three holes, extending his advantage, and maintained a three-shot lead going into the 18th hole. A steady par there essentially sealed the deal, even as other players remained on the course.
But leading by such a margin brought its own pressures. “Sleeping on a lead of any kind is tough, but sleeping on a six-shot lead, you’d think it would be comforting but it’s like everyone expects you to win,” Lee admitted. “You’ve always got the thought in the back of your mind that if you do lose, you are the one that’s messed it up.”
Support from teammates also played a role. Sophomore Drew Sykes, a fellow Englishman, offered some well-timed encouragement before the final round. “He gave me some good words that really helped me out, just telling me to just trust my ability, you know, my golf has got me in that position so far so just keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens,” Lee recalled.
Lee’s road to this win wasn’t always smooth. As a freshman, he boasted a strong 18-hole scoring average of 73.26, with three top-20s and two top-10s, including a top finish of sixth. Last season, however, his average slipped to 75.53, and he failed to crack the top 20. Still, he excelled academically, earning Golf Coaches Association of America All-America Scholar honors, and delivered a clutch performance at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, sinking the winning putt on the first playoff hole to send Coastal Carolina to the NCAA regional. At the NCAA Bremerton Regional in Washington, he rebounded from an opening-round 81 to finish tied for 44th, closing with a 2-under 142 over the final two rounds.
Lee’s summer back in the UK was a mix of challenges and highlights. He finished 20th in the Scottish Amateur, advanced through the first qualifying stage for the British Open before falling short in the second, and placed second in the Walton Heath Trophy tournament with a 12-under 276, just two shots behind the winner. “It’s been slowly building sort of since conference last year,” Lee said. “Obviously my match being the one it came down to and holing a putt on the playoff hole to win conference for us. I think that just sort of started a run of good golf.”
His preseason at CCU was equally promising—he didn’t shoot a round over par in intrasquad qualifying, fueling his confidence heading into the season opener. “My bad golf isn’t that bad, just stick to my plans,” he noted. Now, with his first win secured, Lee is already setting his sights higher: “I’m just going to try and win as many as I can. I’ve sort of proved to myself that I can do it, so now that just gives me that little bit of extra confidence when I go to tournaments. I know I can compete and I know I’ve got the capability to have a lead and close it out, trusting that my game is good enough to win at this level.”
The Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate, featuring 16 teams, saw Florida Atlantic take the team title at 26-under 838, with Clemson and Florida Gulf Coast tying for second, nine shots back. Coastal Carolina finished fourth at 15-under 849. Lee’s teammate Sykes finished seventh at 6-under 210, while other team members posted solid showings: freshman Lucas Arntsen tied for 13th at 212, senior Max Bengtsson tied for 28th at even-par 216, sophomore Coleman Ferguson tied for 56th at 222, and senior Owen Kim tied for 62nd at 224. Several freshmen competed as individuals, continuing to build depth for the program.
The Grand Strand, dubbed the Golf Capital of the World, was abuzz with collegiate action, hosting 49 teams across three Division I tournaments. Nearby, the Golfweek Fall Challenge tournaments in Pawleys Island saw Georgia Southern and Charlotte claim men’s and women’s titles, respectively. Coastal Carolina’s women finished fourth, led by junior Varatkarn Kunkaew of Thailand and junior transfer Carla Bourdeaux of France.
Looking ahead, Coastal Carolina’s men’s team will compete next at the Highlands Invitational in West Chester, Illinois, on September 15-16. Meanwhile, the university’s signature spring event, the General Hackler Championship at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, has been renamed the Michael A. Marino, honoring the late club member and supporter Mike Marino. The college-am preceding the main event is now the General James Hackler College Amateur Championship, continuing to foster connections between college players and the local golf community.
For Lee, the victory was more than just a number on the scorecard. It was a shared family memory—one that began years ago when his father would take him to the driving range, fueling a passion that would eventually lead him across the Atlantic. “We don’t really know how it sort of came about, I just really enjoyed going to the driving range and my dad would keep taking me and he was like, ‘If you ever want to stop you just tell me.’ But I always wanted to go back. I always just found the fact that it being an individual sport, if I do well you get rewarded, whereas if you do well with a team sport sometimes you still lose. I just fell in love with the fact that I can keep getting better at the game.”
As Jack Lee drove his parents to the airport after his win, reliving the moments together, it was clear that this victory was about more than golf. It was about family, perseverance, and the promise of what comes next.
